Adelaide or Brisbane for older kids??

**theclarkes** · 06-09-2010, 01:20 PM

We are still awaiting our visa and are heading fro Adelaide as have Sate Sponsor but given the choice what place is best to live for 17/18 year olds, Brisbane suburbs or Adelaide?? Can anyone advise as concerned our eldest son will find Adelaide too quiet as keep reading various opinions saying how quiet it is!! Surely Brisbane and Adelaide would all offer the same opportunities and general things to do of a weekend and eve??? I always thought Australia would be great to live anywhere compared to the UK with its drab weather and lack of things to do??!
Any opinions would be great, he is a typical lad, football, mates, tennis, x box, partying etc!!:)

**ian mc** · 06-09-2010, 03:36 PM

Both have a night life Brisbane has a better climate not so cold in winter but humid in summer have been to Brisbane a couple of times and found it nice.You have the gold coast and the sunnshine coast about an hour from Brisbane which are like Spain.Lot of development going on up that way and a lot of money being pumped into it, there seems to be a lot of people heading that way I know a few people that I used to work with moved up there.

**sueoc** · 06-09-2010, 03:57 PM

Hi,brought our 2 sons here 2 yrs ago aged 16 and 18.Would defo say Brissy.At that age there is more there for them.They have been there and have future plans to live there.Suits us,coz then we can have a little bit of peace!:)

**SA Great** · 06-09-2010, 04:14 PM

I agree defo Brisbane. Adelaide is more for families, dont get me wrong it is a very nice city but you can't compare the nightlife to Brisbane. Also Brisbane get a lot more touring bands than we do.

**theclarkes** · 06-09-2010, 05:10 PM

Thanks guys for all your replies but we have 3 other kids too, girl of 16 who is academic and quite and a 9 year old and baby of 10 months so its trying to please everyone, I dont think he would be looking for nightlife too much, I think he would just need to meet some guys his own age and hang out, ie the beach? game of soccer? What do the older kids do there after school/college and at weekends?? My hubbie is quite adverse to changing to Brisbane after all the research we have done on South Oz, I just want to feel happy he will have the same sort of life he has here but obviously better.
We are from Chelmsford in Essex, its not that fandabbiedozy here by the way but u know what kids are like at 17, its all about their mates and having a laugh!!

**snifter** · 06-09-2010, 09:09 PM

My husband (and his brothers) are from Adelaide and all of them had happy childhood and teenage years growing up there. There was always stuff to do and places to go. He has cousins who are in their early 20's and they are always having nights out, beach days and a good social life. Hubby used to go camping for weekends in the Flinders Range, have weekends at a mates house (lots of houses have a rec room, often out in the back yard or off the main house for teenagers to hang out in) and that sort of thing.

There is certainly enough to do socially I'd think. Its not like Adelaide is the back of beyond or a small town. It has a night life, good bars, cafes, clubs, beaches and parks. I think its what he makes of it :) Playing a sport is always good to meet people and have a bit of a social life.

**Pommy99** · 06-09-2010, 10:52 PM

If you want your kids to have a decent professional future with good and varied job prospects don't come to Adelaide!

**taffordbark** · 07-09-2010, 01:10 AM

we have three teenagers..........eldest nearly 16. She loves Adelaide and the socialising side of stuff!!!! goes out and about with her mates....and we feel happy for her to do this! If your 16 year old is going to school here then they will meet friends and build up a network sooner than you would think! I was very worried about moving them at such a delicate age.......but they have all adapted and are loving Aus!.......... Good Luck!

**Diane** · 07-09-2010, 01:19 AM

Hi, we moved from Chelmsford out to here about six years ago. Our kids are now 16 and 13. I think certainly for younger kids Adelaide is a far better place to grow up, and for your older one, there is plenty here to do, with the option of moving interstate once he's independent. Everyone is different though, and I think for people who like to holiday in Spain and the Balearics from the UK, Brisbane is probably heaven, for people who prefer France and Italy, then Adelaide is better!

I find the teenagers here are really pleasant, probably because with Adelaide being a bit of a sleepy backwater, they have the chance to be kids much longer, so they don't have to be adults until they are ready for it. Role models tend to be successful sports people rather than pop stars, and the Adelaide Advertiser is the furthest thing from a tabloid you could imagine so there's not that sort of pressure from the media.

There certainly seems to be plenty for teenagers to do here, if they like a social life based around sports and the beach in the summer, that kind of thing, rather than bars and nightclubs.

**Riponian** · 07-09-2010, 02:44 AM

I agree there is loads for them to do but I think location is the key.
Down the south of the city it gets a bit harder for them to get out and about but then there re SLSC and loads of sporting clubs all around the city.
Think for the older kids Brighton and Henley and those areas are good. Anywhere with a train station so they can get themselves around easily there are always buses too.
It will all depend on where you can afford to live and believe it or not Brisbane gets on average more rain than we do and they suffer higher extremes of weather.

You have to come here first anyway right so come here make a life and visit Brisbane and see how you feel. I am sure if you pick your location right you won't have any problems as long as you can get them into something they enjoy...